Convertible double bed settees



M. H-ELLER july M67 CONVERTIBLE DOUBLE BED SETTEES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 22, 1966 /WM A torneys M. HELLER July l l, 1967 CONVERTIBLE DOUBLE BED SETTEES Filed April 22, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor /I/Ax/MM/Aw /Zfuf/Q MMM/ A itome y s United States Patent O 3,329,977 CUNVERTIBLE DOUBLE BED SETTEES Maximilian Heller, 716-20 Seven Sisters Road,

London N. 15, England Filed Apr. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 544,530 Claims priority, application Great Britain, May 10, 1965,

11 Claims. (Cl. 5-38) This invention relates to a settee of a kind which is convertible into a double bed or into two single beds or divans and has for its object the provision of an improved method of construction which is simple and inexpensive to produce and which converts with a minimum of physical effort.

According to the present invention a convertible double bed settee consists of a main frame having side members and comprises a rectangular seat frame said main frame being provided with a separate rectangular back the latter consisting of a frame having foldable legrests said back extending well beneath said seat frame and being laterally tted with horizontally disposed projections engaging into substantially vertically arranged guides adapted at the rear parts of said side members thus rendering said back frame slidable in upward and downward direction, the Whole arrangement being such that both of said frames are approximately of the same dimensions and on conversion from a settee into a double bed said back is turned from a substantially upright position into a horizontal situation so that-said back with its legrests unfolded lbecomes a bedstead whilst the main frame constitutes the other bedstead both bedsteads being linked together in a manner allowing of ready separation and both of said bedsteads being adapted with separate upholsteries.

The present invention comprises various features and forms of construction which will appear from the accompanying drawing made in perspective which illustrates the invention by way of example and in which:

FIG. 1 shows -a sprung back rest,

FIG. 2 partially illustrates a side member with its seat frame and a guide fitting for the back frame,

FIG. 3 is a partial View of a loose upholstery for the back, and

FIG. 4 depicts a rear View of Ia bed settee frame according to the present invention, and

FIG. 5 shows the double bed settee when closed.

Referring to the drawing FIGURE 1 illustrates the back of the settee consisting of a rigid rectangular frame a having by way of example a sprung surface b and pins, studs or the like horizontally extending projections c secured to either side of frame a. Said back frame also shows to be adapted with foldable legrests d.

FIGURE 2 is a vfractional rear view of a rigid main frame which comprises two side members e or bed ends and a rectangular seat frame f which is preferably detachably secured to said side members by screws having wing nuts or rby attachment fixtures as used to iix bed ends to the sides of beds or to angle iron frames. The rear parts of the side members e are by way of example adapted with channelled fittings g into which the projections c of FIGURE 1 engage. Said fittings constitute guides by means of which said back frame is enabled to slide in upward and downward direction. The lupper ends of guides g are shown to be open thus enabling the separation of the back rest by lifting the latter out of the main frame, and,furthermore, it is indicated that the bottom ends of said guides may reach right down to the floor which feature is essential for providing a large slidable back frame.

If a number of projections c well spaced from each other (\viz., FIG. l) are provided at either side of frame a said projections together with said guides constitute locks which hold said back fra-me in an unyielding upright position when pressure is applied by an occupant against said frame.

A back frame of the type described will, however, effectuate a pivotal action if said frame is raised to a certain height when only the lowest projections c are in engagement with the lateral guides g. This latter feature makes it desirable that the guides g overlap the height of the seat frame as depicted in this ligure.

FIGURE 3 is a fractional View of a loose upholstery for the back which is doubled upon itself and forming a hinge on top. This upholstery is shown straddled so as to indicate that its inside may be adapted .as a mattress whilst the outside of this upholstery is covered with furnishing fabric or the like.

FIGURE 4 is a rear view of the skeleton or frame work of the double bed settee according to this invention. Whilst the main frame may `be adapted with an understruct-ure it is demonstrated that the whole construction of the frame work may only consist of three component parts, viz., the side members e onto the latter being attached the rectangular seat frame f and the slidable rectangular back frame a. Furthermore, it is shown in this figure that said back frame considerably extends below said seat frame and if desired said back frame may extend right down to the iioor. This important feature enables the seat and back frames to be of the same or approximately the same dimensions. The back frame of this ligure has only one projection c at either side of the frame a and these projections are situate'd at or near the bottom end of said frame whilst the projections c engage into slots h grooves or the like.

As a result of the aforesaid arrangement the back rest is enabled to move in upward and downward direction, but, owing to the fact that only single projections are engaging the guides h, the pivoting effect of this back rest is spontaneous and in order to hold the back upright or substantially upright, retractable bolts i or like locking means are adapted at the rear of the side members e. Tensile elements j may be used to render the legrests d spring loaded or spring controlled, that is to say, render the unfolding of said legrests automatic when stops k which hold said legrests in a collapsed state are shifted or displaced. After the back has been turned from an upright or substantially upright position into a horizontal situation and the legrests are unfolded the back rest has been transformed into a bedstead which is linked to the main frame in close proximity of the seat frame the latter constituting the other bedstead. The thus transformed back rest can readily be removed from the main frame by either lifting it out of the ,guide fittings g or by providing the slots lz or the guides g with outlets to the rear (not shown) thus creating two single bedsteads which when separated yare entirely independent of each other. The legrests when unfolded are preferably of the same height as the seat frame. In order that the back has a rearward inclination or pitch the guides g or slots h may be obliquely positioned.

FIGURE 5 depicts the double bed settee in its closed state provided with upholstery. The seat upholstery may be xed to the frame f and sprung, stued or the like in the ordinary way, or said Seat frame may be adapted with a loose upholstery. A preferred arrangement for the back is to have a fiat or uniplanar frame a provided with a loose upholstery which is hinged and doubled lupon itself. The frame for the seat and back may be adapted with rigid, semi-rigid or resilient surfaces consisting, for example, and in the above order, of wood, wire mesh o1' tensile elements. The rear parts of the members e are shown to have an oblique shape which the :guides g or h have to follow thus providing the pitch or rake for the back.

The settee is to be taken of having only one pin c at Y' either side of frame a andthe latter being fitted with spring sure by a rigid bar l rod or the like extending over the whole length of the settee said bar being detachably held in position by hooks or the like which are provided yat the rear part of both side member e (not shown). Alternatively, the bar l may be held in place by being sunk into grooves provided at the top of said side members or the latter may be fitted with knobs or the like (not shown) for the same purpose, that is to say to hold the bar l in position. This bar l, apart from holding the back upright when perpendicular pressure is applied against said back, is at the same time preventing the spring loaded legrests from unfolding. When said bar is taken away the following actions come automatically to pass. The obliquely inclined back drops down, the spring controlled legrests are Y' unfolded whilst on impact with the oor said legrests pus-h the guided projections right up to the full height of the legrests thereby completing the mechanical conversion of an upright back into a horizontal bedstead.

frames being approximately the same size and dimensioned to conform to the norm for single beds, said seat frame having 1a depth substantially equal to said predetermined depth of said side members, said back frame provided with an upholstery member extending vertically from the top of said back frame member and terminating at the upper surface of said seat frame upholstery member Aand with at leastttwo leg rests extending in the folded position longitudinally within said back frame so as to reach over the whole height of said back frame in the uprightrposition and said back frame, in a pivoted horizontal position with said leg rests completely unfolded, providing one of the double beds with the rear edge of said seat frame and the inner edge of said back frame in close, proximity.

2. A convertible double bed settee according to claim 1 `wherein the seat frame upholstery vmember extends over the whole area of the seat frame. Y Y

3. A convertible double bed settee according to claim 2 fwherein said back frame upholstery lmember is hinged- Y ly doubled upon itself and rests freely on said seat frame upholstery member. k

One of the remarkable features of the present invention is the fact that each of the component parts of the bed settee has a dual purpose employment, i.e., the side members supporting the detachable seat frame f are also adapting the slidable back frame, said frame fis used as a seat proper and also constitutes a part of one of the bedsteads, and, furthermore the back of the settee becomes another bedstead whereas the upholstery for the seat proper as well as the upholstery for the back serve -at the same time as mattresses.

Considerable advantages will -result if the measurements of the seat and back frames are about six feet in length and thirty inches deep (measured back to front) whilst the upholstery is four inches high. As a consequence the depth of the seat proper of a closed double bed settee according to this invention will be twenty-two inches, the height of the seat can be arranged to any requirements whilst the back upholstery will be fifteen inches high taken from the seat upholstery. After the conversion the double bed is six feet or longer whereas the Width of it is ive feet. All these dimensions are corresponding to the standards for ordinary settees and double beds. It therefore follows that double beds settees constructed and arranged as hereinbefore stated not only have the appearance and the characteristics of ordinary settees but after conversion, have the dimensions of normal double beds.

Finally one more useful feature of the present invention is herewith pointed out. Since the component parts of this double bed-settee are easily detachable and very simple to reassemble, great advantages are obtained by these facilities regarding transport, flat packing and storage.

What I claim is:

1. In a convertible -double bed settee comprising two spaced side members of predetermined depth supporting `a rectangular seat frame and a rectangular back frame, each of said frames provided with' an upholstery member, each of the narrow ends of said seat frame secured to one of said side members, said back frame having at leastone horizontallydisposed stud laterally aflixed to each of its narrow ends, each of said studs slidably inserted into an obliquely inclined guide member provided at a lower portion of the rear part of each said side member to permit, selectively, up Yand down movement of said 4. A convertible double bed settee according to claimV 3 wherein the outside of the back frame upholstery member is covered with fabric whereas the interior thereof is provided with mattress ticking.

5. A convertible double bed settee according to claimV 1 wherein the thickness ofthe seat frame upholstery member is equal to the thickness of the unfolded back frame upholstery member. Y

6. A convertible double bed settee according to claim 1 wherein each narrow end `of said back frame is pro-l vided with two spacedly arranged studs inserted into each of said guide members, each ofthe uppermost studs posiback frame, pivotable movement of said back frame and Y tioned close to the upperV open end of each said guideY member so that a slight uplift of the back frame transforms an unyielding back frame into a pivoting back Y frame.

7. A convertible double bed settee according to claim 1` wherein said guide members extend downwardly to the bottom of said side members.

8. A convertible double bed-settee according to claim 1 wherein guide members extend downwardly to a floor.V

9. A convertible double bed settee according to claim l wherein each leg rest is connected to said back frame by spring means. Y f

10. A convertible double bed settee yaccording to claim 9 wherein said back frame is held in itsupright situation by means of `a rigid bar extending over the whole length of the settee, said bar being readily -detachably secured to the rear portions of said side members, said bar holding at the same time said spring loaded leg rests in their folded-up position.

11. A convertible double bed settee according to claim 1 wherein `said seat frame is detachably secured to theY side members. References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Y 1,982,930 12/1934 Russo 5-37 2,233,893 3/ 1941 Martin 5-38 2,244,470 6/ 1941 Neurlherz 5-38 2,283,417 5/ 1942 Cutler 5-'38 2,438,127 3/1948 Poskin 5-38 '2,698,648 1/@1955 Kronheim 5-42 X 2,784,766 3/1-957 Hale 5-38 X 2,978,710 4/-1961 Borenstein 5-37 3,060,460 10/ 1962 Broyles 5-41 X CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner;

foldable U-shaped leg rests, said 

1. IN A CONVERTIBLE DOUBLE BED SETTEE COMPRISING TWO SPACED SIDE MEMBERS OF PREDETERMINED DEPTH SUPPORTING A RECTANGULAR SEAT FRAME AND A RECTANGULAR BACK FRAME, EACH OF SAID FRAMES PROVIDED WITH AN UPHOLSTERY MEMBER, EACH OF THE NARROW ENDS OF SAID SEAT FRAME SECURED TO ONE OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS, SAID BACK FRAME HAVING AT LEAST ONE HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED STUD LATERALLY AFFIXED TO EACH OF ITS NARROW ENDS, EACH OF SAID STUDS SLIDABLY INSERTED INTO AN OBLIQUELY INCLINED GUIDE MEMBER PROVIDED AT A LOWER PORTION OF THE REAR PART OF EACH SAID SIDE MEMBER TO PERMIT, SELECTIVELY, UP AND DOWN MOVEMENT OF SAID BACK FRAME, PIVOTABLE MOVEMENT OF SAID BACK FRAME AND COMPLETE SEPARATION OF SAID BACK FRAME FROM SAID SIDE MEMBERS, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING, EACH OF SAID FRAMES BEING APPROXIMATELY THE SAME SIZE AND DIMENSIONED TO CONFORM TO THE NORM FOR SINGLE BEDS, SAID SEAT FRAME HAVING A DEPTH SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO SAID PREDETERMINED DEPTH OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS, SAID BACK FRAME PROVIDED WITH AN UPHOLSTERY MEMBER EXTENDING VERTICALLY FROM THE TOP OF SAID BACK FRAME MEMBER AND TERMINATING AT THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID SEAT FRAME UPHOLSTERY MEMBER AND WITH AT LEAST TWO FOLDABLE U-SHAPED LEG RESTS, SAID LEG RESTS EXTENDING IN THE FOLDED POSITION LONGITUDINALLY WITHIN SAID BACK FRAME SO AS TO REACH OVER THE WHOLE HEIGHT OF SAID BACK FRAME IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION AND SAID BACK FRAME, IN A PIVOTED HORIZONTAL POSITION WITH SAID LEG RESTS COMPLETELY UNFOLDED, PROVIDING ONE OF THE DOUBLE BEDS WITH THE REAR EDGE OF SAID SEAT FRAME AND THE INNER EDGE OF SAID BACK FRAME IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. 